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Casting call Wednesday for adaptation of 'As I Lay Dying'

James Franco to shoot film in Canton area

Hollywood returns to Mississippi. Crews will start work on a new film in Madison County.

Casting call Wednesday for adaptation of 'As I Lay Dying'

James Franco to shoot film in Canton area

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Updated: 9:05 AM CDT Aug 8, 2012

CANTON, Miss. —

The first of two scheduled casting calls will be held Wednesday for James Franco's film adaptation of the William Faulkner novel, "As I Lay Dying."

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Franco is set to direct and act in the film, based on the 1930 masterpiece that is the story of the family's quest to bury their mother. The novel is narrated by 15 characters.

"It's an honor to be adapting a Faulkner novel, and a pleasure to be able to film in Mississippi locations, where the story was set," said writer-director Franco.

The film's producers will hold a casting call Wednesday at New Stage Theatre at 1100 Carlisle St. in Jackson. They are looking for the main characters, described as white boys 8 to 10 years old, who can play a young-looking, country boy with a slight rebellious and dreamy nature. The producers are also looking for white girls age 16 to 25, who are described as clean-kept, attractive girls.

The producers are also casting supporting characters. For those parts, they need men of all races ages 40 and older, white boys ages 8 to 10, and white women ages 16 to 25.

The boys and women should arrive between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday. The men should arrive between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. All those auditioning should bring a photo of themselves.

Casting director Matthew Morgan told WMGO's Jerry Lousteau that a round of open casting calls will be held Friday and Saturday in Canton at The Corner House, 252 E. Peace St. Friday's casting call is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday's casting call is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Filming is expected to begin next month in the Canton area, producers said.

"We are always happy to announce another production, but when it is one of our great writers, it is even more special. It becomes such a great and important experience for both the production and the state," said Ward Emling, director of the Mississippi Film Office.

The Mississippi Film Office said the makers of the film are taking advantage of a program that pays them to film here.

"For a William Faulkner film to come back to Mississippi and film here, it's a special treat," Morgan said.

Resident Kyle Rogers said he may bring his son to another casting call set for this weekend at Canton's Corner House.

"I bet he'd enjoy that. We're new to Canton so it's kind of cool to see stuff going on like that," Rogers said.

The film office said the movie will be great for the state, which raked in millions following filming of "The Help."

A statewide incentive pays back up to 30-cents on every dollar filmmakers spend in the state, with some limitations.

"This area needs more exposure because of all of the historical value that it has. It would do this community great value," John Chambers of Canton said.